What is alopecia and what are its causes?

Alopecia, or as it is commonly called, common baldness, is the progressive loss of hair, without the possibility of hair regeneration.

Alopecia does not only affect the hair, it can also affect other areas of the skin where there is hair, such as the eyelashes, beard, armpits, genital region and eyebrows.

There are several types of alopecia and the 4 most common are diffuse alopecia, alopecia areata, cicatricial alopecia, and androgenetic alopeciathe
We are going to explain each of them in detail:

Diffuse alopecia

Diffuse alopecia is a progressive and generalized hair loss that does not lead to total baldness. It affects both men and women. In these cases, the hair takes on a straight and lifeless appearance, and there is a feeling of thinning.

This type of alopecia can develop, among other factors, due to endocrine causes, medication or diet. In the first case, it is a symptom of endocrine gland problems, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, pathologies that usually cause diffuse hair loss.

Medications can also influence diffuse hair loss and hair thinning, examples include anticoagulants, chemotherapy treatments, psychiatric medications, oral contraceptives, excess vitamin A and excess lithium carbonate, among others.

Nutrition is also very important for hair health and to prevent diffuse alopecia. If the hair does not have the necessary nutrients for its development, it becomes dry, brittle and thinning. The roots of the hair may have cracks where they will fracture easily and black hair may acquire a reddish color.

Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is characterized by hair loss in the form of round patches on one or more areas of the scalp, or on other parts of the body. A mild case
of alopecia areata begins with one or two coin-sized hairless patches. Alopecia areata has a development that is difficult to predict. Occasionally, the hair returns to
The disease progresses to total hair loss on the scalp and body in others.

Alopecia areata can affect men, women and children. In some people, hair loss may occur after a major event, such as illness, pregnancy or trauma.

Scarring alopecia

Cicatricial alopecia is baldness that occurs as a result of malformation, damage or
destruction of the hair follicles. These are replaced by a permanent scar tissue in which the hair follicles are no longer
new hair can be born. This alopecia is not very common, since it affects a low percentage of people.
occurs equally in men and women, and is more common in adults.

There are different types of scarring alopecia:

• Primary cicatricial alopecia: This type of alopecia is caused by alterations in the development of the hair follicle, or by hereditary alterations.
• Primary acquired scarring alopecia: There are certain dermatoses of autoimmune origin or of unknown cause that can cause cicatricial alopecia.
• Secondary scarring alopecia.This type of alopecia appears when the hair follicle is destroyed secondarily in the course of an infection, tumor process or secondary to physical processes such as radiotherapy, burns or cuts. Also dermatophytosis or ringworm characterized by the production of several types of fungi of variable pathogenicity of the scalp that can lead to scarring alopecia.

Androgenic alopecia

Androgenetic or androgenic alopecia is hair loss due to genetic factors. It is the
most common type of alopecia, and usually affects most men, although it also affects women.
can occur in women.

That's why we are going to talk more about this type of alopecia, first explaining how it works for
The way it works for men and how it works for women, as well as how the phase you are in is measured depending on your case.

Androgenetic alopecia, or as it is commonly referred to as
called, common baldness, affects 80% over 21 years of age.

It is the most common hair deficiency in men and its incidence increases by 10% every decade;
Thus, 50% of 40-year-old males are affected by androgenetic hair loss.
more or less important. The risk of developing androgenetic alopecia, or AGA, increases with a
positive family history in the father, mother or maternal grandfather.

Normally after adolescence there is an increase of male hormones in the blood, which in genetically susceptible individuals transforms the hard hair (terminal hair) into a finer hair (vellus hair) that will eventually stop growing giving rise to bald areas.

The typical development of androgenic alopecia begins in the frontal and upper areas of the scalp.
It is the result of a hereditary predisposition that causes abnormal hair loss due to the action of androgens.

It is important to mention that in some cases hair loss begins to occur in the opposite way, that is, the hair starts to lighten at the crown of the head, until alopecia spreads over the entire top of the head.

If you suffer from alopecia and want to know more about your specific case, schedule an appointment for a free appraisal appointment and we will gladly advise you in the best way. Complete the form below: